MCC 8398 covers CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS merchants, classified under nonprofit. To maximize rewards at these businesses, look for credit cards with broad spending bonuses or nonprofit category multipliers. MCC Lookup Tool to find which cards earn bonus rewards here.
Organizations like the Salvation Army, United Way, and Boys & Girls Clubs use MCC 8398. Specific purchases include donations, event fees, and office supplies.
When you swipe your credit card at any of these merchants, the transaction posts as MCC 8398 (charitable and social service organizations). Your card issuer uses this code to determine whether nonprofit category bonuses apply — so knowing which merchants trigger this code helps you choose the right card before you spend.
Cardholders often think any donation to charity qualifies for this code, but only direct expenses by charities themselves count.
This distinction matters because different MCC codes can trigger different bonus rates on your credit card, even for similar types of merchants. Always check your transaction statement to confirm which MCC posted — some card issuers allow you to see the MCC in their app or online portal.
MCC 8398 stands for Charitable and Social Service Organizations. It is a four-digit Merchant Category Code used by payment networks to classify businesses in the nonprofit category.
Merchants classified under MCC 8398 (Charitable and Social Service Organizations) operate in the nonprofit sector. Card networks assign this code during merchant onboarding based on the primary business activity.
MCC 8398 (Charitable and Social Service Organizations) is not currently a dedicated bonus category for most major credit cards. For nonprofit spending at these merchants, a flat-rate rewards card (1.5–2% on all purchases) is typically your most reliable option. Use our MCC Lookup Tool to find the best card for any specific merchant.
Currently, no credit cards in our database have a dedicated bonus category for MCC 8398 (Charitable and Social Service Organizations). Most purchases posting with this code will earn base rewards (typically 1–1.5x on everyday cards). A flat-rate cashback card is the most predictable choice for nonprofit spending.
MCC 8398 is assigned to businesses providing charitable and social service organizations services. While this is a less common merchant category, any purchase that posts with code 8398 will be classified as 'Charitable and Social Service Organizations' by your card issuer, which determines whether nonprofit category bonuses apply to that transaction.
MCC 8398 (Charitable and Social Service Organizations) and MCC 8351 (Child Care Services) are both in the nonprofit category but cover distinct merchant types. MCC 8398 is used for charitable and social service organizations businesses, while MCC 8351 is assigned to child care services merchants. Both may qualify for the same bonus category on your card — check your card's terms or use our MCC Lookup Tool to confirm.